Federal National Council Holds 7th Session of the 1st Term of Ordinary Sessions for the 17th Legislative Chapter via Videoconference

Abu Dhabi, “The UAE’s Federal National Council is setting the
standard in the parliamentary sector, embracing advanced videoconferencing
technology to hold all of its sessions uninterrupted during the current
crisis,” asserted His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of
Health and Prevention, and Minister of State for FNC Affairs, as the Council
held the seventh session of the first Term of ordinary sessions for the 17th
legislative Chapter remotely, via videoconference.

“This approach is in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise
leadership to always explore and adopt emerging and sophisticated technology to
enhance operations and discuss the issues that most concern the country and its
people,” H.E. added.

H.E. Al Owais thanked Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh
Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of
Interior, for attending the session to discuss a draft federal law on
protecting witnesses and answer FNC members’ queries in that regard. “This
reflects the high degree of coordination and the efforts to strengthen the
relationship between the legislative and executive authorities to the benefit
of UAE society,” H.E. noted.

H.E. Al Owais thanked FNC Speaker H.E. Saqr Ghobash and all members
of the Council for their commitment to holding the sessions to discuss the
issues that most concern to the people of the UAE and work to meet their needs.

“Collaboration and commitment to discussing the issues that
concern citizens are top priority at all times and under any circumstances,”
H.E. said. “Holding the FNC session under these exceptional circumstances
demonstrates the close coordination and integration between the government and
the Federal National Council. It also embodies the directives of the UAE
leadership to continue working closely together, accomplish more success for
the UAE, and achieve leadership in all sectors.”

“The difficult situation that the region and the world are going
through at the moment with the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) –
along with the necessary precautionary measures implemented to ensure people’s
health and safety – have made it necessary to take new measures to ensure
business continuity and keep serving the country and its citizens,” H.E. Al Owais
explained.

His Excellency also thanked the UAE Government for their
cooperation with the Federal National Council, consistently attending sessions,
answering members’ enquiries, taking the Council’s recommendations into
consideration, and addressing them with utmost transparency, accuracy, and
objectivity.

H.E. Al Owais applauded the team at the Ministry of State for
Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA) for their dedication to coordinating
the session, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to come up with new and
innovative ways to communicate and coordinate between the UAE government and
the Federal National Council.

Parliamentary life in the UAE has made great strides and is
moving steadily forward in accordance with a clear vision rooted in the values
of the Political Empowerment Programme, launched by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, on the 34th annual anniversary of
the Union.

The Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs is
tasked with coordinating between the government and the FNC, and with directing
parliamentary efforts to fulfil the needs and interests of the UAE and its
people. The Ministry sets scenarios for strengthening the relationship with the
Council and keeps track of Cabinet decisions. The MFNCA also monitors draft
laws issued and proposes general topics for the Cabinet to discuss with the
Federal National Council would like to discuss.